Railroad track and railroad truck



Oct. 27, 1931.' A, E, KlNTN-ER 1,829,358

RAILROAD TRACK AND RAILROAD TRUCK Filed Feb. 18. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l :up z3 @a A /5 /o 79' 3 /6 JNVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS OSL 27, 1931. A E KlNTNER 1,829,358

RAILROAD TRACK AND RAILROAD TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1931. A. E. KINTNER 1,829,358

RAILROAD TRACK AND RAILROAD TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

oct. 27, 1931. A, KINT'NER 1,829,358

RAILROAD TRACK AND RAILROAD TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fl MF IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY5 APatented @et Z7, 1931 NTED STATES PATENT FFICE ALCUIN E. KNTNER, O F PAINESVILLE, CI-IIO RABILROAD TECK AND EARL-ROAD TRUCK Application filed February 18, 1929. Serial No. 340,672.

@ sation of this character, improved means for preventing the truck wheels from leaving the rails, improved means for increasing the force with which such wheels bear on the rails, improved means for braking the motion of the truck, and improved means for moving the track engaging apparatus of the truck to and from its operative position with relation to the rails.

More specifically, my invention contemplates Vproviding a track made up of parallel rails having projecting flanges and a truck having wheels for coasting with the tread surfaces of such rails and devices for cooperating` with such flanges, as well as means roperable to either elevate such devices for increasing the force with which such wheels bear against the rails or to both elevate such devices for increasing such force and to apply brakes to suoli wheels. In other words, such devices can be used simply for increasing the tractive eort which the wheels are able to exert before slipping-on the rails, or to assist the wheel brakes inslowing down or stopping the truck. In the vicinities of switches and crossings, my invention contemplates employing plain or unfianged running rails in combination with stationary ramps for raising the rail flange engaging devices to their inoperative positions and for holding them above the level of the inter-- secting rails or switch parts until the crossor switch has been passed and the track .gng devices can again be safely lowered ro their normal positions. These devices are preferably revoluble about vertical axes and cove intimated their mounting consists vertically reciprocable support arranged r movement by the truck and track means provided for this purpose.

My invention presents the following,

among other advantages; higher rates ofv .speed are practicable because the cooperating truck rollers and rail i'ianges are effective to prevent the truck wheels from leaving the ated and decelerated and is capable of pulling heavier loads and stopping them within a shorter distance because of the improved means forpreventine slippage of the wheels; the weight of the trucks and their supported bodies or cars can be greatly reduced because dead weight as a means of obtaining adequate tractive effort and braking effectiveness is eliminated; safer and stronger trucks are provided; less costly, lower and lighter rails L.,

can be employed; and a more simple, positive and reliable' means is provided for `moving the track engaging devices to their inoperative positions when switches and crossings must be passed and such devices raised above the tops of the intersecting rails.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims;

the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used. l

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view which shows an illustrative embodiment of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal sections through the track and truck organization shown in Fig. l; Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections which show the subtruck in its lowered and raised positions; Fig. 6 is a plan view; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section which corresponds to the transverse section shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 isa transverse sectional view of a modified rail; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary. and partly sectional view which shows a vmodification of the rail flanges and Asubtruck rollers; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified track arrangement; Figs. l1 and 12 are transverse sectional views through a inodified subtruck and track arrangement; `and rails;'the truck can be more rapidly acceler.

f Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the subtruck shown in Figs. 11 and 12. A

That embodiment of my invention which is hereshown for purposes of illustrating the principles involved consists broadly in two parts, the'first being a traclr 10 and the second being a truck 11. As ordinarily con- '.structed, the track 10 is made up of the two spaced and parallel rails 12, but in the vicini ties of switches and intersections such track e additionally .comprises the intermediate ramps 13. The rails 12 are vsecured to the l transverse ties or sleepers 14, and 4each ,is y formed with a base 15, a web 16, and a head `17 which is provided with an outwardly dif rected flange 18. The ramps 13 are formed lin the manner illustrated in Fig 7; in other words, each has the end portions 19, the in' Vclines 20, and an intermediate and horizontal portion 21 which presents a tread surface 22.

It will be understood that the ramps 113 andv the cross rails V (notshown) are suitably arfranged at their points of intersection, and x that such arrangement providesfor permitting `of theunobstructed passage of the truck `wheels whichcoact with the running'rails.

For a purpose which rwill 'laterfappean the running rails, for some distance in each di rectionfrom apcrossing or switch, are formed Irwith plain heads;l otherwise" stated, the flanges 18 are omitted.` f The second part'of my invention, the truck ,11,comprisestheside frames 23, the revolubly mounted axles 24, and the wheels 25. Such side frames are secured together by the transverse rods 26, and eachis provided with the r inwardly directed parts 27. VThese parts are "perforated as at 28, and through such perforations pass the 'bars 29.".l At their outer ends, the bars 29 are'pivotally connected to the brake shoes "30, and at their inner ends,

1 such bars are pivotally attached to thememe 'bers '31. As will be apparentl from an inspection of Fig. 3, the members 31 and the bars 29 constituteitoggles wherebythe brake shoes are moved relativelyto the -itreadfy surlfaces of the wheels 25. The operating mech- -anism for suclrtoggles includes'a'shaft 32 which is revolublyfjournalled in' thev vside frames 23 and whichextendsftliroughthe 'elongated holes33; in ,the members 31. y vThis shaft carries the ,cams 34,`and these camsare y vdisposed beneath the blocksV 35,'.sucli blocks y Y being securedto the 4members 31. The blocks V be forced upwardly, and thebralres applied 35fa`re so arranged that the members 3l will only when lthe shaft32is revolved in a clockwise direction (Fig. .f :inwardly `of the members 31 are the hangers 36. These hangers are formed with the projecting stops 37 whichcoact with the lower two of the rods 26, and their upper portions are provided with elongated holes 38, through which passes the shaft 32, as well asf-with thejla'ngesl 39 which are disposed above the cams 40.l Such f at 45`and v46 to provide ythe ledges 47. kDisposed between such ledges and the heads 48 of the pins 49 are the thrust bearings 50, and between the lower sections of such pins and the walls ofthe bore 46 are the roller bearings 51.- i VTo the lower and projecting endsof the lpinsv 49 are securedthe rollers 52,'and these rollers` are provided with theV peripheral grooves 53.- e 1 Normally, the grooves 53y of the rollers 52 straddle the flanges 18 .of the running rails 12, and the Vflanges V54 of the'wheels 25 coact with the innerv faces of the heads 17. If the truckV 11 is a' tractor,

and. if it is desired to increase the rdraught force beyond .that at which Ythe wheelsbegin toslip `on the rails, the lever 55 (.F-igsj2 and3) is swung to the right. This will be effective to voscillate the cams 40 in a countercloclrwise direction, and such cams, during this movement, will raise thel flanges -39 and the subtruck 41. The rollers 52 will therefore move upwardly withV relation to thev running rails, and .the lower horizontal surfaces of their grooves 53 will engage with` thev under rsurfaces of the flanges 18. The ruiming railswill therefore be clamped more or less firmly betweenthe truck wheels and thesubtruCkrOllerS, and asa consequence 'the tractor wheels will beable to exert a` greater'draught. The lever 55 may be opei'- ated in. any suitable manner. The operating meclianismherein shown consists of an electric 'motor 'H56 which cairies'a pinion (not shown) on theend of its armature shaft. ,Thispinion meshes with the segmental gear '57, and this gear is attached toV the lever 58.

The lever 58 is pivoted as at 59, and its lower end is connected tothe rod 60. The remote end of the rod 60 connects with the lever 55. Such. motor is reversible and the torque which it exerts is variablein both directions.

vThis makes it possible to regulate the tractive effort `which thetruck wheels exert; when heavy loads are being drawn or when the running rails are slippery, the rollers 52 can be elevated with greater force than when lighter loadsv are being drawn or the track is dr i l 7Vhen the truclr -11 or the vehicle of which :it formsu a part is tobe stopped. or slowed down, the lever 55 -(Figs.`2 and 3) is Vswung to the left. The cams 34 and 40 will then be oscillated in a clockwise'direction, vand both the flanges 39and the bloclrs35willbe` elevated. Such elevation of the blocks 35 will result in forcing the shoes against the tread surfaces of the wheels 25 in the manner hereinafter explained, and such elevation of the flanges 39 will result in lifting the rollers 52. The action of these means will quickly bring the truck ll to the desired speed.

lVhen the truck ll is passing over a switch or crossing, the subtruck all is in the raised position shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and the rollers 52 and are above the tops of the intersecting rails. As clearly shown in such gures, this raising fr-om the lower or operative position is effected by the ramps 13 and the rollers 42. As the truck proceeds towards a crossing or intersection, such rollers engage with the inclined portions 20 and the subtruck is elevated. The rollers 42then pass onto the horizontal porti-ons 2l and ride thereon until the obstructions have been K passed.

Such rollers then move down the inclined portions at the far ends of the ramps 1 rollers 67.

tion a modified rail structure which may be used in place of the one previously described. This consists of a standard rail 6l to which is secured, as by the bolts 62, a plate 63. Such plate has a flange 64 which serves the same purpose asV the integral flange illustrated in the preceding figures. The lower part 65 anchors the aligned rails together,v

and in installing an assembly of this type, the joints between the plates are preferably Yarranged alternately in order to give additional strength and to avoid coincidence of the joints traversed by the wheels and rollers of the truck.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of my invention, and this modification consists 1n upwardly inclining the rail head flanges 66 and in correspondingly tilting the subtruck When this arrangement is employed a slight vchange in the bosses 68 is necessary in order to compensate for the altered positions of the roller shafts, and it Vis found that any degree of angularity is feasible and that the rollers (the bosses 68 being suitably formed) can even be adapted for revolving in vertical planes. As shown, such rollers revolve in planes which are inclined at about fifteen (l5) degrees from the horizontal.

In Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, a still further modification of my invention is illustrated, and kin comparison with that embodiment which was explained in connection with Figs. l to 7 inclusive, this modification is advantageous in that it does not require an eX- tension of the subtruck controlling ramps across any switch parts or intersecting tracks. With a view to realizing this advantage, the ramp rails 69 are inclined outwardly as well as upwardly, and the subtruck 70 is provided with the pivotally supported rollers 7l and with the ramp engaging wheels 72. Such rollers are revolubly journalled on pins or shafts which projectoutwardly from the hinged or pivoted members 73, and the wheels 72 are revolubly connected with the collars 74. These collars are slidably mounted 'upon a shaft 75 which is centrally fixed in the bracket 76, and the links 77 eX- tend from thin bosses 78 to the pivoted members 73. When the wheels 72 engage with the ramp rails 69, the subtruck 70 is elevated in about the same manner as has been previously explained, and the collars 74 are moved outwardly towards `the main running rails. These last movements are effective to position the rollers 7l in operative relation to the running rails 79, and such rollers will maintain these positions and act to support the subtruck in its elevated relation to the track until the crossing or other obstruction has been passed and until such wheels are returned to their normal positions by the ramps on the distant side of the crossing or switch being passed. This return movement of the rollers 71 is effected by the convergence of the controlling ramps, and the lowering of the subtruck to its normal position is effected by the downward sloping of such ramps. If desired, some such means as spring pushed plungers and cooperating grooves may be employed for retaining the collars 7 4 in their operative and inoperative positions, and of course it is essential that the subtruck elevating and holding apparatus shall be so arranged as not to collide with any of the switch parts or transversely extending rails which make necessary the elevation of the track engaging rollers.

From the above description, it will be apparent that my invention provides a simple and rugged organization for the purpose set forth, and that all functions previously specilied are effected in an advantageous manner. lt will also be understood that in addition to such structural and functional features as are pointed out in the above description my invention presents other advantages; for eX- ample, the rails are so constructed that their flanges can be turned inwardly and their tread surfaces re-used at those locations where outside flanges are not desired, when such flanges through use in the ordinary manner have become detrimentally worn, and the rollers of the track engaging devices are so y i-a iforcoactingjwith such ilange, said Wheel bedesigned as to also present double'suifaces which can be used invsuccessionby reversing their relation to therail flanges and the subtruck supporting pins. Butit Will be understood that ifsuch reversible feature is rnot desired, the trac-lr engaging vrollers maybe vformed with ra" single ilange. Furthermore,

' fit Will be apparent that the `longitudinally rigid character of the subtruck and its'flang'e engaging rollers will beieiective topositive-r lyv prevent any spreading of the vmain runfning railsfvvith relationto the main truck `vvlieels, and that thisffeature as vvell` as an increased braking effectiveness Will recomr 'mend the use V'of my invention in connection with t'raileras distinguished from tractor trucks.

"QOther modes of applying the principle of Vmy invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change lbeing made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided thel means'sta-ted byV any oi the fol-v lowing claims or the equivalent of'such stated means be employed.

I thereforeparticularly point out and dis- 'tinctly claim vas my invention l. ln'asystemoi'l he character described,

a rail structure having spacedapartl Ways,

and device having-Wheels adaptedffor coacting Withfs'uch'iways, other Wheels angullarly positioned and movable with respect to -said kvvheels, vand motor mea-ns for 'controllably increasingthe traction by said lastvnamed Wheels.,l .i l u. Y 2. In a systeinV of' the character described,

arail structurehaving spaced apart Way, and

I'a device having Wheels forgcoacting with `suchways, other Wheels aii'gularly positioned 'and movable'fvvith respect to sai'dvvheels,`and `means for movings'aid other Wheels* or ,securing ,bralriiig'as desired.

l 3. In a system ofthe character described-,a

railstructure-fhaving spaced apart Way, andY afdevicehaving Wheels adapted for enacting with such u Ways, other Wheels 'angiilarlypositioned and ,fmovablef With;` respect to said \vheels,fa;vbrake, and means for positioning said; last-named Wheels or .o 'eratin' the i v I o v brake. y y l sin a system of the character described,

la rail structure havinga head and a flange,

Y and-a device Yhaving Wheels adapted for coactingfwith suchzh'ead andother Wheels angularly positioned and movable With respect to'said Wheels and adapted'for coactin'g with siichlangga brake, and a motor for positioning said brake. co

last-named .Wheels or opeiating the Ina system-ofthe Vclass described, air-ail structure having ahead and a longitudinally in t'errupted flange, a ramp arranged adjacent to such rail structure. at such interruption, anda device having a Wheeliadapted ing arrangedt for verticalmovement by said ramp.'Y Y L A' A `l f- Inn system of the character described, lfa track, and truck for operating upon such Vtraclrnsaid track liavingparallel rails with heads provided'with flanges., and said truck .including Wheels adapted for venacting With such heads, other wlfie'els angula-rly posi- :tioned and inovahle With respect 4to said 4Wheels,optionally operable means for movingsaid last-named Wheels, and track-mounted means for moving the same Wheels for engagemento-r disengagement'. j

7. In a system of thecharacter described, atraclr, andgatruck for yoperating upon such Ltiaclrg: said traclrhaving parallel rails with heads provided lWith-flanges, and said truckV includiiio' Wheels adapted for coacting With such he., `s, brake shoesv operable upon adjacent Wheels, toggle means for operating said brake slices, other Wheelsvangularly posi-j vtijoi'ied and inivablef'with vrespect toV said wlieelsga motor for Vcontrolling the position said':last-named Wheels and V'operating said toggle brake-means, and track-mounted with s ch flanges` a support for suchl rollers, -and means vfor vertically elevating said support and said rollers Whenjsuch truck is operating upon the unlanged portions or" such 9; ilnj a system of thel character described,

Aa 'trac-kand truck; said track consistingrof railsV having projecting llanges, and said truck consisting ora fra-ine including `Wheels for enacting With such rails, devices for covacting Withsuch flanges, a support for such devices, and means for increasing the force with which suchdevices and said Wheelsbear against vsuch ilanges and rails, said means including vcams vfor lifting said support and Vmeans :for: revolving said cains,

" l0; ln a systemor the character described,

a track, Vanda'truclr for operating upon said track', said track` ,consisting of flanged and unlanged rails, anda ramp operatively as- V:sociatedwith. such Annlanged rails` andv 'said truck consisting of a structure including Wheels'rvf'or coacting with such rails, devices Jfor Acoasting `with such"- anges, and supports o oiusaid devices, Vsaid ramps being adapted iorxraising said supportA and Vsaid devices 4 vertically.

- ll. In a system of the character. described,

llO

as traclr andiajtruck,said track. including langed'and uniianged rails, and' rampsnoper- ..130

atively associated With such unanged rails,

and said truck including roller device for coacting With such anges, a support forV such devices, and rollers on said support, said rollers being arranged for coacting With such ramps.

12. In a system of the character described, a track and a truck; said truck consisting of rails having projecting flanges, and said truck vincluding devices for coacting with such flanges, Wheels for coacting With such rails, brakes for said Wheels, a supportfor said devices, and means operable in one direction vto lift said support and in another direction to both lift said support and apply such brakes.

13. in a system of the character described, a track and a. truck; said track consisting of rails having projecting flanges, and said truck including devices for coacting with suchV flanges, Wheels for coacting With such rails, brakes for said Wheels, a support for said devices, and means operable in one direction to lift said support and in another ldirection to both lift said support and apply such brakes, said means consisting of a shaft carrying cams, and members connected to such support and brakes, said members being arranged for operation by such cams.

n a system of the character described, rails provided with flanges, and a truck provided Witli Wheels for coacting With such flanges, said flanges being discontinuous in the vicinities of switches and crossings in order to permit of the elvation of such Wheels.

15. In a system of the character described, rails having discontinuous langes, a truck having means for normally engaging With such tlanges, and means associated with such rails for positively and mechanically lifting such first named means Where such discontinuities of said flanges occur.

16. in a system of the character described, rails having discontinuous portions, a truck having devices for normally coacting With such portions, means associated with such rails for mechanically moving such devices away from such rails Where such discontinuities of such portions occur, and means for holding such devices in such removed positions until such discontinuities terminate.

Signed by me this 14th day of February,

ALCUIN E. KINTNER. 

